Metro Atlanta Chamber

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Kate Atwood is an entrepreneur and a community leader who has built her career on heading-up social impact initiatives in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors.
At 23, Kate founded Kate’s Club, a nationally-acclaimed not-for-profit organization based in Atlanta that provides support to children and teens facing life after the death of a parent or sibling. Having lost her own mother to cancer at the age of 12, Kate set out to build a world for children and teens where it was ok to grieve. What started with just six kids is today a thriving sustainable community organization that serves thousands of children, and their families through year-round social and therapeutic support programs.
Following a successful founder transition, Kate left her post at Kate’s Club and went on to serve as the Executive Director of the Arby’s Foundation. While at the helm of the Arby’s Foundation, Kate refocused its efforts on a new strategic mission that more closely aligned with the Arby’s brand. During her tenure, Kate helped the organization contribute more than $18 million to ending childhood hunger in the United States.
In 2015, Kate joined the Metro Atlanta Chamber, as Vice President to lead the recently launched ChooseATL campaign. In this newly created role, Kate is responsible for focusing the region’s narrative to showcase all that metro Atlanta has to offer with the purpose to attract and retain top emerging talent.
Kate has participated in her fair share of media along the way. She has been featured in People Magazine, Real Simple Magazine, Huffington Post, and has had appearances on the Today Show, the Meredith Vieira Show, CNN, and ABC-TV’s The View. She was recognized in the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s feature “Up and Comers: Top 40 under 40”, and was honored by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of Georgia’s “40 under 40.” In 2013, she was named to GOOD Magazine’s global “GOOD 100” list for her commitment to helping others.
Kate remains involved with Kate’s Club as its Founder, serves on the Share our Strength Leadership Council and on the 11Alive Community Service Awards Board of Governors. She is a published author of “A Healing Place”, and has been featured in six books as a thought-leader on personal giving and social enterprise. She resides in Atlanta, Georgia.

Ashley Cleveland, is an award winning marketing and brand strategist with more than 15 years of entrepreneurship, experiential marketing, and multi-media expertise. Ashley's natural ability to identify the passion points of the next generation's technology crazed cross-cultural millennials, has put her in the position to build some of today's top global brands including Red Bull, Ciroc Vodka, and NARS cosmetics.

As Director of Marketing and Development for ChooseATL, Ashley’s role is to intentionally showcasing the heartbeat of Atlanta through its influential culture and innovative talent. Her team works to create properties and strategic partnerships that serve as genuine storytellers of the city through digital, social and experiential programs that position Atlanta as a top-tier globally competitive metro.

Specializing in the collision of Innovation, tech, and creative culture, Ashley is an active and prominent leader in Atlanta's Afrotech ecosystem serving as an advisor, investor, and contributor. She is a graduate of Florida State University, a proud Mommy of Kipp Atlanta, and wife to Renaldo Nehemiah, world renown Creative and Art Collector.

Simeon specializes in product management with a focus on streaming video platforms, entertainment, and branded content. His previous work has been awarded and recognized at the Cannes Lions, Streamy Awards, Webby Awards, and Shorty Awards. He has been at the forefront of digital entertainment for much of his career, working on the first ever branded entertainment series produced for Snapchat and has launched multiple digital series and projects built for audiences on YouTube, Instagram and streaming video services.

He joined the ChooseATL team in June 2017. Simeon’s primary responsibility is oversight and production of THEA, a streaming video platform for metro Atlanta creators. His work lives at the intersection of entertainment, technology, and business needs, positioning THEA as a platform for metro Atlanta’s creatives, entrepreneurs, and changemakers to be discovered and recognized globally while driving a deeper connection between the region’s creative and business communities.

Alexis joined ChooseATL in February 2016 as an intern and now serves as the Marketing Manager for the team. In her current role, Alexis manages local events and activations, oversees ChooseATL’s social media platforms, and is the liaison for community engagement.

Missouri native turned ATL enthusiast, Alexis graduated from the University of Georgia in May 2015 with a B.A. in both Mass Media Arts and Spanish. Alexis lives in the Virginia Highlands and enjoys spending her free time riding her bike and frequenting local coffee shops.

In January 2017, Nick joined ChooseATL as an intern and now serves as Project Coordinator for the team. In his current role, he takes on project work such as research, writing, assisting the executive director, and supporting event logistics. Additionally, he manages updates on the ChooseATL site, supports budget management, and develops the ChooseATL social media calendar.

Living most of his life in Kennesaw, Nick graduated from the University of Georgia in May 2017 with a B.B.A. in Digital Marketing. He loves trying new restaurants in Atlanta, and is excited to start his professional career in the south.